Magadha – Sublimity Forgotten – Part 4: Escaping from the Naxal menace

Prologue: While doing some sort of googling on my thought process and how it should come about, I came across a very very interesting open letter written to Mr.Chidambaram. Kudos to Mr.Arun Agrawal. Here is the link.

Last part after the long monotones in the previous one must be a good feeling for few people who might have bothered to read it… it did help me a lot though…

Understood that their do exist some factions who are terrorists in the true sense of the word and I seriously feel that they should be wiped out with the use of any sort of force which may be required. On the other hand, there are majority of the people in these areas who have taken up arms or are supporting the “cause” just because they feel that the governments who are supposed to represent them are not just. Of course, education helps since you get a more open mind to thinking….but how many governments have seriously made any effort to educate? It will take extra effort because all these people have always lived without the need for any education other than how to survive in jungles.

Again, I will in no way say that mining in these areas should be banned in any way. 200,000 crores is not a small amount in any way and this is the amount of production that is estimated to have happened in 2010-11. Mining should be taken up but it should come with some clauses:

1.       Clause 1: Equal profit sharing by the people of the area and the labor. The money may not be given directly to them but should be used for land development after the mine is closed and bring about self sufficiency and education to the people of the area. COMPLETE transparency required in all these activities.

2.       Clause 2: Health and hygiene should be properly maintained in the mines for the people working there.

What (in my view) is needed is to handle this entire operation with a carrot and stick approach. Of course the most essential thing is the leader and his team should be clean in that no monetary gains of any sort should be available to them. Their asset holdings should be carefully monitored by an independent charge for which they should give all data required at any point of time.

Post this, the tribals should be allowed to appoint their own committees to assess each area’s potential in mining and what they require from the mine holders. These committees should be assisted by authorized scientists who will support the functioning.

After this exercise, with representation from all stakeholders, and time-bound due diligence, way out for mining activities should be proposed. (I am sure my two clauses above will find their way into these..)

Again the exercise above should lead to two things:

1.       Mining will be more legitimate and illegal mining will be reported by locals more easily since they know legal mines will give them more stake.

2.       Tribes will have more confidence in the work being done for them and they will show more readiness in supporting the center.

Once confidence is brought back, helping local people build basic infrastructure by providing with support (not completely financial since we know how much of it lands up with the naxals). Building hospitals (with local ways of treatment incorporated), schools, ensuring scholarships for capable students, providing with ways of living and earning by interacting more with the world outside will help a lot…. And frankly, who will have a problem with this? And if someone does, ask them what they want and why…and give it (unless it is some stupid grant which never finds its way to the place where it is intended to reach).

Over time, as local support for naxalism reduces, the few terrorists can be herded and punished though I don’t think that will be an issue if everything goes to plan…

Simple solution? I don’t think so but definitely a start can be made…who knows something simpler might just come up.

Magadha – Sublimity Forgotten – Part 3: Political turmoil and Corruption in Post-Independence era

While talking of Magadha region (and particularly Jharkhand) post Independence, it becomes essential to discuss the political situation in Bihar till 2000 and what prompted the entire split of the states. My comments as till now will be based on internet searches and my own inferences based on these findings.

Taking this entire part in 3 chapters to discuss:

1.       Politics in Bihar from 1947 till 2000.

2.       Reasons for Bihar – Jharkhand split.

3.       Jharkhand post 2000.

Political turmoil in Bihar till 2000

Bihar (including present Bihar and greater Jharkhand) had been the seat of development and education in India till Independence. Most of the movements against the British rule had also started there prominent being the Champaran Satyagrah (Civil Disobedience Movement) of Mahatma Gandhi along with the numerous tribal revolts which were mentioned in previous parts. Some of the most advanced universities of medieval world were in Bihar.

Post Independence, Bihar has been at the center of some strange power struggles between the central and state governments. Bihar immediately after Independence was governed by two great Gandhians: Sri Krishna Sinha (Sri Babu) and Anugrah Narayan Sinha. These two were members of the Indian National Congress (INC) and ruled the state as Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister. They have always been regarded for their unimpeachable and highly uplifting integrity which is also very clearly visible in the recently released book “Freedom & Beyond” which has correspondence between Nehru and Sri Babu. Bihar was in safe hands till 1961 when Sri Babu died while CM. Krishna Ballabh Sahay took the reins of the state in 1963 after which for another 4 years, Bihar was OK when Ballabh babu who just happened to be the only CM of Bihar from the now Jharkhand constituency of Hazaribagh. He is also known as the author of the bill which promoted banishment of Zamindari system. Post this, Bihar was predominantly ruled by CM’s who were populist in nature including the famous B.P.Mandal  who was CM for around 48 days. His suggestions for OBC reservations led to the subsequent downfall of the V.P.Singh government a long time afterwards. After Ballabh babu, in 10 years, 12 CM’s took power interspersed with President’s rule twice! And most of these were from INC. This didn’t stop here…. From 1980 to 1990, another 6 took power (all from INC) before the famous Laloo Prasad Yadav. It is safe to assume that when you are not sure of your seat even inside your own party, what will you do for the state… Bihar went from being a very well governed state to slowly go down in its capabilities. The result: from 1980-1990 (data of state-wise GDP’s at link below) when South Indian states and even Maharasthra and numerous other states were growing by around 8-10% per annum, Bihar managed to even show a negative GDP growth in 2 years. The situation was even worse in tribal populated Southern Bihar (now Jharkhand) since almost all the CM’s were from the Northern parts who focused on their vote banks in the North to garner votes by providing any development that was coming to these places. The situation was not helped by the fact that Bihar accounts for 54 seats in the Lok Sabha which assures that power in Bihar becomes very important for the one holding it.

Bihar was slowly getting converted to the state which provided cheap labor to the rest of the country. (I still remember some painters who had come to our house in Delhi around 10 years back. When my mother asked if they were from Bihar, they scrounged and started at her and commented: “Do we look like Biharis to you? Don’t abuse us.”) It was this anti-Congress wave which was developing till 1990 that Janata Dal managed to come to power in 1995 on the pretext of being a party “for the backward” headed by a Yadav. Due to continuous caste based politics first on the back of the oppressed “lower castes” and then with the support of Muslim leaders (who were 20% of Bihar population), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) managed to hold onto Bihar till 2005 even when Laloo made a mockery of Indian political system by promoting his wife Rabri Devi to the CM post. Too many times post that, she has shown her complete ignorance of the needs of a CM… a very very sad successor to the great leaders of the past.

Reasons for Bihar – Jharkhand split

In March, 1998 after 2 very unstable years of United Front’s rule at the center, BJP (through NDA) came to power in Delhi under the leadership of Mr.Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Two years before this, in 1996 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and Samata Party together dented the Janata Dal – Congress combines power in Bihar by taking a huge slice off the combines’ Lok Sabha seats from Bihar. Samata Party itself gained 6 seats in Bihar itself. This strength gained in 1996 was even further strengthened in 1998 and in 1999 when even deeper inroads were made into Bihar.

Once Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power (stable power unlike 1998), Bihar was high on the agenda. While the demand for a separate state of Jharkhand had always been present since Independence, it had lost its sheen during the political turmoils. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had come to power in 10 Vidhan Sabha seats out of 324…all 10 in South Bihar on the call that they will demand for an independent Jharkhand. The NDA government at the center also knew that with the muscle power of JD which was in power in Bihar, it will be difficult to break into the state where the BJP had just 41 seats unless the state and hence Laloo’s power was divided.

Hence after a very controversial bill was tabled and passed as Bihar Reorganization Act in 2000 Jharkhand was separated. A poll conducted during that time actually showed that even people of Jharkhand did not fully support the division because they felt that even though that area was far richer in natural resources, separation from Patna will completely hide them in country political scenario. BJP on the other hand felt that even though JMM (allied to Congress) will become strong in Jharkhand, it will be easier to pry away Jharkhand than Bihar. (Things turned out to be completely different though with JD(U) – BJP combine coming back to power under Nitish Kumar in Bihar while BJP and JMM keep switching in Jharkhand.) This resulted in Jharkhand becoming the state in 2000.

Jharkhand post 2000

Filled with corrupt politicians who suddenly found themselves in power in a state after the split from Bihar, Jharkhand went from bad to worse. Mining has been promoted aggressively on the pretext of giving jobs to the tribals while MNC’s have benefited by cheap and readily available labor and the large quantities of minerals inside the ground. Greasing of palms to get such opportunities has been hugely beneficial for the companies as well as the politicians.

High levels of corruption in other states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (Cchattisgarh), Karnataka related to mining did not help matters at all resulting in what is now the situation.

According to the data available on the website of Ministry of Mines, last 5 years have seen double in value of production minerals to almost 200,000 crores estimated in 2010-11. This on-shore production is predominantly taking place in 10 states of which Naxal infested states are 6 accounting for 56% of total on-shore production that is reported. Newspapers and articles are full of cases of illegal mines in these areas which are not even reported and have been the cause of the real trouble between the local tribes and the governments.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in the following:

1.       The land which “legally” belonged to the government was taken away from the tribes who had been staying there for centuries.

2.       Tribes were categorized as below poverty line and used as cheap labor by MNC’s to use in mines under extremely dangerous conditions.

3.       Not only did the mines result in elimination of forests which were the livelihood of the tribes, but they resulted in numerous respiratory and other diseases in the tribals.

4.       While the government watched from the sidelines, the police was used to curb any violence in these tribals.

What happened was the resurgence of Naxal activities in all these areas since the people started looking up to these armed militants to provide them with some respite from the continuous pressures of the local politicians. While Naxalites did extort money from the local tribesmen, they also provided them with support from the police which was man-handling the ladies and torturing the people on pretext of providing protection to the company executives.

Tribals had never been averse to taking up arms against oppression. This has been common in history for the last thousands of years. Hence any feeling of being oppressed is bound to have its affects in these areas unlike the plains of Bihar and UP where oppression by politicians is usually tolerated without any thought of physical violence. Given the changing climate and the feeling that even when released from the clutches of the British, the tribes had to continue to fight for the land which they rightfully claimed as theirs. What we have is a highly intensified and aggravated situation further fueled by the claims of politicians that these are power struggles where Maoists are trying to create terror by oppressing the weak.

As far as I have read, the only people these Maoists seem to have targeted till date are the following:

1.       Politicians

2.       Police and other armed forces which they feel are representatives of the government

3.       MNC’s

Anyone else had any problems? Do let me know…

All the 3 categories above represent the people who are the “oppressors” in this case… who are now becoming the oppressed. Power corrupts and that is what is happening with the Naxals as well who have started making money by using power.

Unfortunately, the people who are best suited to correct the state of these tribes who have taken up arms are the ones who are guilty of having put them in this place. Hence any solution that might come will have to have one thing at the core: Upliftment of the Tribes. Otherwise all efforts will be futile and only superficial.

Magadha – Sublimity Forgotten – Part 2: Historical accolades and ways of living in Greater Jharkhand

Jharkhand means the Land of Forests. It literally is that. Go on a train journey through this area (e.g. Kolkata to Ranchi and then onwards to Bhubaneswar) and you will know what I mean. It has always remained the land of forests / bushes with abundant wildlife and other natural resources including water and minerals below the ground. Centuries of forests have led to vast deposits of coal and other minerals in this area…but we will come to that later.

So by any wildest imagination, what do you expect a small tribe staying in a forest during the medieval period to be doing? Want help with imagination? Think of an Animal Planet episode on behavior of a pride of Lions in the jungle.

They will surely be hunting for food with metal weapons. They will also be very carefully guarding their women and children from other marauding tribes since that’s what a person in a jungle does. They will be fighting very very aggressively for every small piece of land which they will again guard since they will have a direct claim to the game which is available on that land. Since most of their life is dependent on land, they will by nature have to be aggressive in behavior. (I am sure the guys who were not so domineering found themselves demoted to somewhere lower down the hierarchy.) These “heroes” of the tribe will get the best of the women and the lion’s share of the food. They will possibly also get power to become leaders or elect leaders, take decisions regarding main events in the tribe, attack other tribes if required (predominantly for land I am sure)… This feeling of mine has also been reflected in a study on tribes done by a CountryStudies group¹.

 

Now extrapolate this nature over many centuries and what do you get? Small to medium sized tribes which have learnt to fend for themselves while living with their natural surroundings which are forests. They also surely love their forests since these forests are the ones which give them food and shelter.

Thus safe to say that right from the period of Peopling of India² till around the 16^th century when the Mughals invaded India, these tribes (or adivasis in hindi) were living in complete harmony with nature….and among themselves? They really didn’t care for anyone outside the realm of their area which was as small or as big as they wanted depending on possibly just one thing and that was the availability of food. Simple life. Truly…

And how do these tribes behave now? Exactly in the same way as they have behaved for the last 50-60 thousand years! The Gods they worship, the culture they follow, the food they eat (and even how they procure it and cook it)……nothing seems to have changed drastically in so many thousand years.

Some more historical facts:

1.       The early Indian dynasties – Mauryas, Guptas and others did not bother the tribals. They allowed these to live the life that they liked and the entire relationship was very symbiotic. The famous Swami Valmiki is actually known to be an adivasi.

2.       Mughals were the first who truly tried to usurp the lands belonging to these tribes. I could not find anything much on how that went for either the mughals or the tribals. Numerous references do exist to the use of Mughal architecture in tribal areas.

3.       From the beginning of the British rule in India, the British had a very difficult time trying to keep the land which they had claimed under the Jagirdari system where they appointed a Jagirdar for the land and asked the tribes to pay taxes. The revolts of all these tribes³ led to some of the bloodiest revolts against British rule. Though not as famous as the 1857 uprising, each of these was difficult for the British to suppress. (Hindsight: If only the tribes had learnt to live together instead of fighting each other, they would probably never have been controlled by the British.)

Clearly, can we assume that if their land or livelihood were threatened, these tribes would take up arms and fight till death? Of course, that is what they have been taught by their ancestors…just like we have been taught to earn our livelihood and support our family by taking care of the basic requirements as well as some luxuries if possible.

Some links referred to in this part:

1.       http://countrystudies.us/india/70.htm

2.       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peopling_of_Indi

3.       http://swapsushias.blogspot.com/2010/09/major-tribal-uprisings-in-british-india.html

Magadha – Sublimity Forgotten – Part 1: Jharkhand Then & Now

Magadha – a region which finds reference in almost all main texts of Indian history, a region which brought in the era which was called the “Golden Period” of Indian history when Indian economy was the largest in the world, a region which gave birth to Jainism and Buddhism both of which promote peace and tranquility among all people irrespective of their religion, a region which gave birth to the Maurya as well as the Gupta dynasties in India, a region which was home to some of the most scientifically & culturally advanced civilizations in the world for almost 2000 years.

And what is Magadha today? This area which encompassed (roughly) the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh (now Cchattisgarh), Southern Bihar (now Jharkhand which is the major part of Magadha), little of present Bihar, Northern Orissa & western parts of the modern West Bengal which is a land-locked, mineral rich, culturally rich, forested, tribal land. What is it today? Assocham (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) puts Jharkhand at the bottom of development in all ways – way below national averages in terms of investments, infrastructure developments or any other growth statistic that you may decide to use. The other parts of the Magadha, which have fallen into other states thanks to the Divide & Rule doctrine of the British or the political push & pull of the Indian politicians, do not fair too well but find themselves a little better condition but not too great. Despite that, Jharkhand continues to be the leading producer of mineral wealth in the country, endowed as it is with vast variety of minerals like iron ore, coal, copper ore, mica, bauxite, graphite, limestone, and uranium. The area is also known for its vast forest resources.

The Naxal-Maoist “insurgency” has been blamed for most issues which have been infesting this area including any forms of development which the government has claimed to have tried. But what happened to this great land which remained the thorn in the British rule in India for more than a century? Does anyone know that the famed “Divide & Rule” policy of Lord Curzon was implemented in its full viciousness in this area to curb the continuous rebellion of the numerous tribes which refused to be part of the colonial rule? These tribes resulted in the bloodiest and longest battles which the British had to fight for their supremacy compared even to the Boer wars in Africa if taken in entirety. Yes! That is how aggressive these 5.3% of Indians can become if their area is challenged!

In this 4 part series, I intend to discuss the historical significance of this land which resulted in the people being what they are, the political climate which resulted in the downfall of this area post Independence leading to what it has currently become and my very modest and un-experienced ideas in how I feel the ancient Magadha can rise like a Phoenix – again to spread its wings and help the entire country sour.

Disclaimers:

1.       I do not have any education in history apart from the classes in medium school.

2.       I have been to Jamshedpur and Ranchi and apart from little travel in Northern Orissa, I have not been to any areas which may be termed as tribal areas in this belt (even though I will love to go at least once) hence all of my thoughts have come from readings and my own beliefs.

3.       I am a staunch protestor against any acts of corruption (an irony since I am also an Entrepreneur) and in more occasions than one; this protest may come across very strongly in some of my sentences.

4.       In all my references to Jharkhand, what I will mean is the definition of Greater Jharkhand which lot of people recognizes as the area including parts of West Bengal, Orissa and Cchattisgarh since these areas have the same ways of living to some extent separated from how the people in other parts of these respective states live.

Some more things in Anna Hazare and the Lokpal Bill.... I have copied this and added my comments in red..... My signature from today is changed to Jai Hind!

1.      Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2.      What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra

3.      So what?

This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel  and wind mills. (More details on http://www.annahazare.org/ralegan-siddhi.html)

In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4.      Ok,...?

This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5.      Really, what is he fighting for?

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6.      How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bil, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

7.      It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit their theft (corruption).

8.      Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?

The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed. (The bill has been now taken into consideration within 4 “long” days)

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit  them.

9.      Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result. (Another previous link that I had posted though gives a completely different point. The author says that the Lokpal can only give their recommendations to the speaker who will then decide what needs to be done with the guilty and / or the recommendations. He can also throw the file in the gutter if he feels like it...)

10.  Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?

Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan are supporting his cause.

11.  Ok, got it. What can I do?

At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics, forwarding this Email, spreading the news over casual chat, etc. (I don’t know if that is sufficient. How about REFUSING to pay bribes for a change, not breaking any rules wherever we are and whatever we are doing? How about adopting a village like Mr.Hazare did without a single person coming to know about it till he had shown what he meant?)

At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.

At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.

At least we can pray for his good health.

(A very pessimistic Mr.Badal on the bill has something completely difference to say though: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Badal-No-Lokpal-Bill-can-end-corruption/articleshow/7940063.cms)

P.S.: A few more details about Anna Hazares Fast and Jan Lok Pal Bill. Please read it.

Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, this Bill has been refined on the basis of feedback received from public on website and after series of public consultations. It has also been vetted by and is supported by Shanti Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kiran Bedi, Anna Hazare etc. It was sent to the PM and all CMs on 1st December. However, there is no response.

1.      An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up.

2.      Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.

3.      Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore. (Again read my comment somewhere above.) Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.

4.      The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.

5.      How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.

6.      So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a months time. You could also report any case
of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or
panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.

7.      But wont the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That wont be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.

8.      What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.

9.      What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

Jai Hind!

Lokpal Bill - The irony

Lokpal bill seems to have captured the limelight...and absolutely correct in doing that since it directly tries to fight the one biggest problem facing our nation...

This link below gives a viewpoint of a judge (retired) of the Indian judicial system.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-01-07/news/29382630_1_lokpal-bill-chief-justice-or-judge-fight-corruption

Hoping for a better India...

Falcon

In your face Mr.Thakarey

Dear Raj and Uddhav, A Chandigarh lad, a jharkhand captain and a Delhi boy won the world cup for India and dedicated it to a marathi legend. Your regional hatred has failed. 


Excerpt from one of many mails floating around post our victory....I liked this the most.

Loosening our purse strings...for the right things?

As India becomes World Champions in cricket, no one wants to be seen as the spoil sport and gifts and cash have started raining on the Men in Blue. The Delhi Government announced a cash reward of Rs.2 crore for MS Dhoni....he does not belong to Delhi and neither does he have anything whatsoever to do with Delhi. But who cares...? Mrs.Dixit decided that doing this will possibly make her more famous so there she went giving away our money to people who don’t need it any more than Bill Gates. Karnataka government is giving plots in Bangalore to each player. Why????

Why not put the same money to possibly sponsor some needy and potential children through higher education? Rs.1 crore will be enough to even get someone through Harvard Business School and then make him / her work for the country in some way. This will have much longer benefits.

At the cost of sounding sarcastic, please give the money and gifts to people who need them. Our players are great and they have shown this numerous number of times in and off the cricket field. I am sure they will get a lot more than this through a single sponsorship contract they sign with the numerous corporates who are queuing up on their doors.